Teacher in charity ride to Lourdes

A teacher at the Nicholas Breakspear School is cycling to Lourdes to raise money for the HCPT Pilgrimage Trust

A teacher at the Nicholas Breakspear School is cycling to Lourdes to raise money for the HCPT Pilgrimage Trust.

Barry O’Sullivan, one of the Religious Education teachers at the school in St Albans, Hertfordshire, will be cycling 560 miles over the Easter holidays.

The HCPT Pilgrimage Trust helps take sick and disadvantaged children to the French Marian shrine. It manages to take over 7,000 people to Lourdes every year.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “This is the charity through which I met my wife, and is very close to my heart. I aim to raise £2,000, which will pay for three children to go on holiday with the charity.”

The tour begins in Paris and winds its way to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Mr O’Sullivan says the last 70 miles of the cycle journey will be largely uphill. He adds that “good luck, prayer and a map” will stop him from getting lost as he travels. He is most looking forward to the finish at the Marian shrine and travelling through France with “12 intrepid cyclists”.

The journey begins on April 16 and Mr O’Sullivan and his fellow cyclists are due to arrive in Lourdes on Good Friday. He has already raised £1,400 for the charity.